Letters to the Editor

Sir - We live in Wibsey ward. Our postal ballot was not delivered, and is still not.

Despite calls to various officials, including the Council, the Labour Party and Christopher Leslie's office I encountered indifference and buck-passing.

Their only suggestion was that we should collect replacement papers. However, this was geographically impossible as we were simply not here.

Consequently, this ill-thought-out system effectively disenfranchised us. Our long-struggled-for vote, which is our legal right (and which the Labour Party should understand more than anyone), was denied us by default.

Now in Wibsey we have the BNP, elected by a very narrow margin (three recounts and 14 votes). Our lost votes in this household, and those of people to whom we have spoken, could have made a difference and kept them out.

This should warrant a legal challenge, but I really now cannot be bothered. This system deprived us of our votes - and no one cared - so we will do the same at the next election and abstain.

Irony is too tame a word for this disgrace. So, well done Mr Leslie, good work. What a great career you are having - not!

Barry Daniels, Hawes Road, Bradford.

No delivery

SIR - Now the election is over, could I ask how many constituents did not receive their voting form and were therefore denied their democratic rights?

The outcome could have been different depending on the numbers involved in some areas.

Friends of mine in the Bingley area were denied their democratic rights because their form was not delivered.

Stephen Walsh, Church Street, Bingley.

What a shambles

Sir - Even by Labour's standards, the postal voting system has been a complete shambles.

We have had reports of fraud, intimidation, missing ballot papers, people receiving dozens of ballot papers, children receiving ballot papers and the police have had to investigate numerous complaints when presumably they should have better things to do like catching burglars.

Turnout did increase, although how much of that was due to fraud we do not know, and turnout increased anyway in those areas which did not have this system inflicted on them.

Given that Chris Leslie overruled the independent Electoral Commission to impose all-postal votes on us, he should now apologise and promise it will not happen again.

This has been a prime example of how Labour has to meddle in everything, however much it is not needed or wanted.

If Mr Leslie wishes to continue with this ridiculous system I will challenge him to a public debate on this issue any time, anywhere in the Shipley constituency with an independent chairman of his choice.

Will Mr Leslie admit this system was a failure or will he debate this issue with me?

Philip Davies, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate - Shipley, Hartlington Court, Baildon, Shipley.

'Stealing' votes

SIR - I had to smile at the headline "Postal ballot hailed a success in turnout" (T&A, June 11). Surely the whole point about enforced postal elections is that nobody "turns out". All stay at home!

I could imagine many political activists scooping up the voting papers of their young adult offspring who "couldn't be bothered" and posting them off. The latter are hardly likely to grass on mummy or daddy, are they? The same applies to co-habiting partners whether married or not.

I reckon that this could have boosted "turnout" by several per cent, but that's "democracy", New Labour style! I won't even mention other "strong-arm" tactics to "steal" votes or intimidate voters.

The sooner the dinosaurs in the Labour and Tory camps are extinct, the better! We've given votes to women, let's now make all - or the great majority of - votes count in the election of representatives, just as in Northern Ireland (local) elections, the Welsh Assembly, and Scottish and European Parliaments.

J Hall, Pennithorne Avenue, Baildon.

Waste of money

SIR - After observing the fallacy called "the election" I, like many others, am absolutely disgusted with this method of voting.

Firstly there is the extra millions paid out in printing and distribution. Never was a situation so openly vandalised legally. All the people involved should be sacked for their incompetence.

Nobody is sure that the final results are correct. It is hoped that the next election will be done democratically at the polling booths.

It was very pleasing to see so many of our Asian friends as candidates, they deserve some recognition for the extra effort they put in.

It would be very consoling to see an Asian Council leader for a change. After all, we have already had an Asian Lord Mayor.

The people now on the Council are always talking about diversity, discrimination and integration, so why doesn't the Council leader step down and let one of our Asian friends have a go?

Derek Wright, Westbury Street, Bradford.

Polling joke

SIR - Verification of my identify in order to validate my postal vote is a joke.

I received ballot papers for three other people at my address (I live alone). Two of these were for females.

At least at a polling station - where, incidentally, I do not have to produce proof of identity - even tired polling officers would realise that I was not female!

Trevor Scott, Oak Mount, Bradford.

Parking answer

SIR - Further to the letter from Phil Boase regarding parking on alternate sides of the road.

In the 1940s, North Street in Keighley had two circular metal signs atop a 5ft tubular pole.

Attached in the centre of the sign by a piano-type hinge was a semi-circular metal plate.

On one was printed words to the effect "parking permitted on this side today", on the semi-circular metal plate words to the effect "no parking today".

Every morning somebody from the nearby police station would come and change the semi-circular plate, so that parking on the roadside changed on a daily basis.

J B Bryant, Highfield Road, Keighley.

Losing freedom

SIR - So now you can't buy a dog a bone. Why? because the European Union says so.

This is getting beyond a joke now especially when vets say they are very nutritious for pets.

We are moving towards the EU telling us what time we have to go to bed and get up, because our lives are becoming a set of rules, thus taking our freedom away from us.

B J Rudd, Roger Court, Undercliffe.

Flying the flag

Sir - Driving around Bradford over the weekend it was heartening to see people of all colours and religions proudly displaying the flags of St George.

Such patriotism, and people-integrating, shows how Bradford can be if we all work together with a common vision.

As a Muslim I am proud to be British and to fly my flag. We live in the greatest country in the world.

M Ali, White Abbey Road, Bradford.